Among the notable Argentines who have played in MLS are Diego Valeri, Diego Soñora, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Javier Morales, Seba Blanco, Thiago Almada, and Gonzalo Higuain. This season, there are 32 players from Argentina on MLS rosters, including seven with Inter Miami — Messi, Weigandt, Fede Redondo, Facundo Farias, Nico Freire, Franco Negri, and Tomas Aviles.

“The truth is, this a big step in my career to be here,” Weigandt said. “I am here for a reason. Each person has their destiny, and this is mine right now, and I’m very happy to be here. It’s incredible. I love the city, it’s so nice. And the club, I am enjoying every moment.”

After his press conference, Weigandt spent some time chatting with the Miami Herald. This is what we learned…

He wears No. 57 in memory of his grandmother.

Weigandt’s father, a pharmaceutical salesman, was 17 years old when his mother died. She was 57 at the time. Marcelo, who was born less than a year later, never got to meet her, but he feels inspired by her spirit and wears 57 in her memory.

“It’s a nice, but complicated, story because my father, at age 17, became in charge of a family,” Marcelo said. “Today, to be able to share my journey and the dreams of our whole family with him, my mom and my sister…that is beautiful.”

His family plans to join him in South Florida in a few months.

Weigandt was born in the port town of Avellaneda, across the Riachuelo river from Buenos Aires, and raised in nearby Monte Chingolo. Avellaneda is home to soccer clubs Independiente and Racing, and Lanus is a neighboring club, but Weigandt was spotted by a Boca Juniors scout when he was five years old and that became his club for the next 19 years.

Weigandt started playing soccer at three years old at a neighborhood club called San Jeronimo. At five, while playing for another club called Villa Ideal, a scout from Boca Juniors spotted him and asked if he wanted to go try out for their youth club.

“Obviously, I said yes, I didn’t hesitate,” Weigandt said, smiling. “At six I started with the Boca 2000 team, that’s where the dream began. At 15, I got my first callup for the Argentine U15 team. After that, U17, U19, U20, then with the senior team. At 18 I made my debut with Boca’s senior team.”

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